What We Study

NIEHS intramural scientists have defined descriptive terms of particular relevance to their own research, and have ranked those terms accordingly. This search feature obtains best-matches with the terms you choose, and shows an overall score based on the scientific rankings.

Research

NIEHS research uses state-of-the-art science and technology to investigate the interplay between environmental exposures, human biology, genetics, and common diseases to help prevent disease and improve human health.

Environmental Stewardship

Research Highlights

The vision of the NIEHS is to use environmental health sciences to understand human disease and improve human health. Use the search box to see research highlights from NIEHS scientists since its founding in 1966.

About NIEHS

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is expanding and accelerating its contributions to scientific knowledge of human health and the environment, and to the health and well-being of people everywhere.

Miscellaneous Awards

Fellows' Career Development

NIEHS fellows have received various additional awards and recognition from NIH or non-NIH entities such as professional societies. See some of the miscellaneous types of awards our fellows have won below.

2017 Awardees

Ketrell McWhorter, Ph.D., a postdoctoral IRTA fellow in the NIEHS Social & Environmental Determinants of Health Equity Group led by Chandra Jackson, Ph.D., M.S., earned this year's Marco Cabrera Poster Award at the Network of Minority Health Research Investigators (NMRI) meeting April 26-28 in Bethesda, Maryland. The award recognized the best poster presentation for translational research. NMRI was launched in 2002 by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The group involves minority biomedical researchers studying the impact of health disparities in minority populations.

Matthew Quinn, Ph.D., a postdoctoral IRTA fellow in the NIEHS Molecular Endocrinology Group led by John Cidlowski, Ph.D., won an Endocrine Society Early Investigator Award for his work on women's health issues, particularly menopause. The Endocrine Society featured Quinn's talk on menopause and glucocorticoids at the society's annual meeting in April, in Orlando, Florida.

Natalie Saini, Ph.D., a visiting postdoctoral fellow in the NIEHS Mechanisms of Genome Dynamics Group led by Dmitry Gordenin, Ph.D., won the 2017 Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS) Young Scientist Award. The EMGS scientific review panel selected her over three other finalists. Saini received the most votes on a research video she wrote and produced herself. She presented the 2017 Young Scientist Award Winner Plenary Lecture on the research described in the video at the 48th Annual EMGS Meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina, September 9-13, 2017.

2016 Awardees

Kathryn McClelland, Ph.D. , a visiting fellow in the Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, headed by lead researcher Humphrey Yao, Ph.D., won a Lalor Foundation Merit Award at the 2016 annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) July 16-20 in San Diego. It recognizes one of the seven best-researched and most well-presented abstracts, and includes a $500 stipend for career development.

Deirdre Tucker, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) predoctoral fellow in the Reproductive Endocrinology Group of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) won three awards for her research into the potential for compounds used as alternatives to bisphenol A (BPA) to induce mammary tumors. These awards include the Edward W. Carney Trainee Award in April 2016, the David Holbrook Travel Award, and the Golberg Memorial Travel Award in February 2016. Each comes with $1,000 award for conference travel.

Fei Zhao, Ph.D., a visiting fellow in the Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, headed by lead researcher Humphrey Yao, Ph.D., won the first place oral presentation at the 2016 annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR). July 16-20, in San Diego. He also received a Lalor Foundation Merit Award at the meeting. It recognizes one of the seven best-researched and most well-presented abstracts, and includes a $500 stipend for career development. In addition, he won the best trainee poster presentation award for his study “Wolffian Duct Regression in the Female Embryo is the Result of COUP-TFII action, Not a Lack of Androgen Action,” at the 25th annual meeting of the Triangle Consortium for Reproductive Biology (TCRB) on Feb. 5, 2016 at NIEHS.

2015 Awardees

Georgia Alexander, Ph.D, a research fellow in the NIEHS Synaptic and Developmental Plasticity Group led by Serena Dudek, Ph.D., won a poster award from the Triangle chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (Triangle SfN) on April 10, 2015 in RTP, NC.

Sara Andres, Ph.D., a visiting fellow in the Genome Stability Structural Biology Group led by Scott Williams, Ph.D., received the 2014 New Investigator Best Paper Award from the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS), in April 2015.

Alanna Burwell, a NIEHS Scholars Connect Program (NSCP) scholar in the NTP Molecular Pathogenesis Group, headed by Darlene Dixon, D.V.M., Ph.D., won a student travel award from the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) for her study on the basic mechanisms of tumor growth in uterine fibroid cells, induced by a low and environmentally relevant dose of cadmium. She is a senior at North Carolina Central University (NCCU).

Kelly Carstens, a predoctoral IRTA fellow in the NIEHS Synaptic and Developmental Plasticity Group led by Serena Dudek, Ph.D., won a poster award for her study of “Perineuronal Nets in Hippocampal Area CA2: A Role in Restricting Synaptic Plasticity?” from the Triangle chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (Triangle SfN) on April 10, 2015 in RTP, NC.

Lauren Donoghue, a postbaccalaureate (postbac) IRTA fellow mentored by Kenneth Korach, Ph.D., won a travel award from the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education for her poster of “A rodent-specific estrogen receptor beta isoform has tissue-specific expression and reduced transactivation with endocrine disrupting compounds” at the NIH Postbac Poster Day, April 30, at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

Rebecca Evans, a postbaccalaureate (postbac) IRTA fellow mentored by David Miller, Ph.D., won a travel award from the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education and an outstanding poster award for her poster “Basal regulation of the blood-brain barrier: turning down P-glycoprotein via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling” at on the NIH Postbac Poster Day, April 30, at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

Collin Johnson, a postbaccalaureate (postbac) IRTA fellow mentored by Stavros Garantziotis, M.D., won an outstanding poster award for his poster “TLR5 modulates MyD88-dependent TLR4 signaling” at the NIH Postbac Poster Day, April 30, at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

Preeti Kodavanti, a postbaccalaureate (postbac) IRTA fellow mentored by Stavros Garantziotis, M.D., won a travel award from the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education and an outstanding poster award for her poster “Mitochondrial protection accounts for decreased toxicity of nanoceria in macrophages compared to monocytes” at the NIH Postbac Poster Day, April 30, at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

Carrie Murphy, an NIEHS Scholars Connect Program (NSCP) scholar in the Chromosome Stability Group, headed by Michael Resnick, Ph.D., won a student travel award from the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) for her study on the p53 tumor suppressor gene. She is also a senior at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). She also won the first NSCP Outstanding Scholar Award in April 2015.

Erin Quist, D.V.M., an IRTA fellow in the National Toxicology Program (NTP), won first place in the 'Young Investigator in Toxicologic and Industrial Pathology' competition for her study “Potential modes of action for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)-induced hepatocellular hypertrophy in mice.” She works in the Reproductive Endocrinology Group, led by Sue Fenton, Ph.D., and is also a member of the NTP Pathology Group, headed by David Malarkey, D.V.M., Ph.D. She was also the winner of the Roger O. McClellan Student Award at the March meeting of the Society of Toxicology.

Alisa Suen, a visiting predoctoral fellow at the Reproductive Medicine Group headed by Carmen Williams, M.D., Ph.D., won the best oral presentation award at 2015 meeting of the Triangle Consortium for Reproductive Biology in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Kristen Upson, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the NIEHS Women’s Health Group headed by Donna Baird, Ph.D., won the best poster award from the Triangle Consortium for Reproductive Biology (TCRB) at its 24th annual meeting on March 14, 2015 in Research Triangle Park.

Porscha Walton, a NIEHS Scholars Connect Program (NSCP) scholar in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Office of Health Assessment and Translation, led by Kris Thayer, Ph.D., won a student travel award from the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) for her study on identifying various uses of synthetic progesterone drugs and categorizing adverse outcomes, specifically as a result of exposure during development. She is a senior at St. Augustine’s University.

2014 Awardees

Jessica Boni, an NIH post-baccalaureate (postbac) Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) fellow mentored by David Miller, Ph.D., won an Outstanding Poster award on May 1 at the 2014 Postbac Poster Day at the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

Diana Cruz-Topete, Ph.D., an NIEHS Research Fellow, was one of seven young scientists to receive a 2014 Future Leaders Advancing Research in Endocrinology (FLARE) Internship from the Endocrine Society. She accepted the award at a joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society June 21-24 in Chicago. She is a member of Molecular Endocrinology Group led by John Cidlowski, Ph.D.

Rachel Goldsmith, Ph.D., won the Emil A. Pfitzer Postdoctoral Award, Drug Discovery Toxicology Specialty Section from the 53rd annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology March 23-27 in Phoenix, AZ.

Salik Hussain, D.V.M., Ph.D., won the Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow, Nanotoxicology Specialty Section from the 53rd annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology, March 23-27 in Phoenix, AZ.

Chang Liu, a predoctoral fellow in the Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, led by Humphrey Yao, Ph.D., won the best poster award during the 23rd annual meeting of the North Carolina Triangle Consortium for Reproductive Biology (TCRB), which includes a cash prize of $2500 from the Campion Fund.

Madisa Macon, Ph.D., a trainee in the Reproductive Endocrinology Group of the NTP Laboratory, headed by Suzanne Fenton, Ph.D., won a 2014 Impact Award from the UNC Graduate Education Advancement Board during the 16th Annual Graduate Student Recognition Celebration on April 24 in Chapel Hill, N.C. Macon studies the mechanistic basis of health effects following prenatal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in mice.

Caitlin McDonough, an NIH post-baccalaureate (postbac) Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) fellow mentored by Carmen Williams, M.D., Ph.D., won an Outstanding Poster award May 1 at the 2014 Postbac Poster Day at the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

Olive Ngalame, Ph.D., won the Postdoctoral Award for Research Excellence, Stem Cell Specialty Section from the 53rd annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology, March 23-27, in Phoenix, AZ.

Katie Pelch, Ph.D., won the Third Place Postdoctoral Award, Metals Specialty Section from the 53rd annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology, March 23-27, in Phoenix, AZ.

Brian Sayers, Ph.D., won the Best Publication Award, Nanotoxicology Specialty Section from the 53rd annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology, March 23-27, in Phoenix, AZ.

2013 Awardees

Sachin Bhusari, D.V.M., Ph.D., a member of the Cellular and Molecular Pathology Branch (CMPB) Investigative Pathology Group, headed by pathologist Mark Hoenerhoff, D.V.M., Ph.D., won the 1st place Young Investigator Award during the 2013 Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) annual meeting on June 16-20 in Portland, Ore.

Michael Boyle, D.V.M., a member of the Cellular and Molecular Pathology Branch (CMPB) Investigative Pathology Group, headed by pathologist David Malarkey, D.V.M., Ph.D., won the 3rd place Young Investigator Award during the 2013 Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) annual meeting on June 16-20 in Portland, Ore.

Heather Franco, Ph.D., an IRTA fellow in the Reproductive Developmental Biology Group (RDB) led by Humphrey Yao, Ph.D., won the a Lalor Foundation Merit Award at the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) meeting on July 19-23 in Montreal, which includes a prize of $500.

Chang Liu, a visiting predoctoral fellow in the Reproductive Developmental Biology Group (RDB) led by Humphrey Yao, Ph.D., won a Lalor Foundation Merit Award at the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) meeting on July 19-23 in Montreal, which includes a prize of $500. He also won a SSR Trainee Research Award for 1st place oral presentation with an additional $500 prize.

Erica Ungewitter, Ph.D., an IRTA fellow in the Reproductive Developmental Biology Group (RDB) led by Humphrey Yao, Ph.D., won a Lalor Foundation Merit Award at the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) meeting on July 19-23 in Montreal, which includes a prize of $500. She also won a SSR Trainee Research Award for 2nd place in the poster category with an extra $300 prize.

Yuanyuan (Laura) Xu, Ph.D., a visiting fellow in the NTP Laboratories Inorganic Toxicology Group, headed by lead researcher Michael Waalkes, Ph.D., won the first-place President’s Award for Research Competition (PARC) during the annual fall meeting of North Carolina Chapter of the Society of Toxicology (NCSOT) Oct. 24 at NIEHS. She also won the Best Postdoctoral Publication Award at the Society of Toxicology (SOT) Annual Meeting March 10-14 in San Antonio.

2012 Awardees

Yasmin Crespo-Mejias, an NIEHS intern in the Reproductive Developmental Biology Group headed by Humphrey Yao, Ph.D., won the highly competitive NIH Undergraduate Scholarship.

Xiaohua Gao, M.D., Ph.D., a member of the Molecular Pathogenesis Group headed by Darlene Dixon, D.V.M., Ph.D., was the winner of the 1st Place Young Investigator Award for research presented at the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) 31st Annual Symposium, June 24-28, in Boston.

Fumin Lin, Ph.D., an NIEHS visiting fellow in the Cell Biology Group headed by Anton Jetten, Ph.D., won a $1,000 travel award for research he presented at the NIH Stem Cell Research Symposium, May 10-11, in Bethesda, Md.

Jacqueline de Marchena, Ph.D., a member of Developmental Neurobiology Group, led by Patricia Jensen, Ph.D., won a Catecholamine Society Travel Award to attend the 10th International Catecholamine Symposium (XICS) on Sept. 9-13 in Pacific Grove, Calif.

Sabrina Robertson, Ph.D., a member of the Developmental Neurobiology Group, led by Patricia Jensen, Ph.D., won an Irwin J. Kopin Travel Award to attend the 10th International Catecholamine Symposium (XICS) on Sept. 9-13 in Pacific Grove, Calif.